August 19, 2018 Chasing the Wind

Mt. Rainier from the Mt. Adams Wilderness.

“You don’t know which way the wind blows.
So how can you plan tomorrow?” song by 2nd Chapter of Acts

Mission Impossible has begun.  Granny Hat has to predict with some accuracy if and when Mission will cross the Canadian border and reach the PCT Northern Terminus.  There are so many factors to consider: fire detours, weather, fatigue, navigation, mileage and even, hate to mention it, cell phone service.  Granny’s mission is to meet her hiker with whatever will help him transition to the Cotton World; clean clothes, flip flops, a razor and food.  She has packed a few of her hats, some photo- op Canadian props and is ready to head north.  But just where she will meet Mission remains a mystery.  The last Mail Drop went out yesterday to Stehekin, WA a cool PCT stop that involves a boat trip across Lake Chelan.  Many hikers plan to stay awhile waiting for the fires to subside and trails to open.

Fire and Ice

Forest fires are causing trail closures that threaten Mission’s finish. The Pacific Crest Trail was closed yesterday from Harts Pass (mile 2622) to the Canadian Border due to a 300 acre fire burning on the PCT at Holman Pass.  Imagine being that close, less than 40 miles, one day’s tramp away and being prevented from touching that Northern Terminus monument.  The idea makes Granny Hat just sick.   There are other ways to get to the Canadian border that require a separate wilderness permit but entry over the border is only permitted when on the PCT trail.  The NOBO hiker trash have some decisions to make and Mission isn’t a fan of skipping.  He often refers to himself as a Purist. Thru-hikers that have completed nearly 2500 miles aren’t in the habit of giving up easily. Meanwhile, calling all you angels, pray that the fires are contained quickly, pray for rain, for the trail to re-open, but above all pray for safety for Mission as he navigates the last 200 miles through fire and ice.

 

 

Nobody knows the mountains we’ve been climbing
Nobody sees the valleys we are barely surviving
His eyes are on us tonight
We got to believe
His eyes are on us tonight

Nobody sees the fires we are facing
Nobody knows the future we’re embracing
His eyes are on us tonight
We got to believe that His eyes are on us tonight

We are not forgotten
We are not alone
He is holding us and He’ll never let go
He’ll never let go        Not Forgotten by Ryan Stephenson

Up on Snoqualmie Pass, I-90 Mission took a bit of a Nero to eat a big breakfast, load up on caffeine and speak to some Firefighters about trail conditions.    He texted home: “I can’t leave the coffee shop!  I don’t know how to get out!”   Mission was experiencing what thru-hikers call a Vortex, it took him some time to muster up some Escape Velocity. (See PCT glossary below)  Here are some Washington Cascade photos with quotes from Mission’s texts.

“First thing I saw in Washington was this bird freaking out on the trail.”

“1/1000 of the (huckleberry) plunder…”

“Mt Adams”

 

 

“Goat Rock Wilderness. Last one has a few goats.”

 

 

And check out the lonely cowboy on his commute home!  What a life!

The Road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the Road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some larger way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say. Tolkien

Granny Hat will continue to blog on her Mission Impossible trip but wants you to know she firmly believes: with God all things are possible!

Skipping:  Leaving the trail, and reentering the trail at another location, to bypass a section of trail. Skipping is done for several reasons such as forest fires, heavy snow pack, fatigue, lack of motivation, a need to make up for lost time or to meet up with friends who are hiking ahead of you. Often people who skip a section of trail, but complete the rest of it, still consider themselves through hikers, especially if the reason for skipping was to bypass a trail closure due to forest fires.

Hiker Trash:  A general description of a through or section hiker, or of through hikers collectively. It probably comes from the fact that through hikers often are confused for homeless people during town stops. It also comes from the fact that the usual ways of determining status in real life have little, if any, meaning on the trail.

The Cotton World: Life off of the trail. So called because wearing cotton will not put you in danger of hypothermia. Also known as real life.

Mail Drop: Supplies, mostly food, that a hiker arranges to have mailed to him along the trail. Mail drops can be sent to a post office near the trail via general delivery or to any of several hiker friendly businesses or trail angel homes.

Vortex: Anything off trail that draws hikers into it, and hikers find difficult to leave. Usually a town stop, restaurant or trail angel’s home.

Escape Velocity: The will to walk away from a vortex.

Purist: noun: someone who believes that every single mile of the official trail should be hiked, unbroken for a hike to be considered a thru-hike

Nero: noun: a day where very few miles are hiked – no definite measure exists, but it can usually be measured as 25% or less than your daily average